Retaining clip for construction panels with tear strips



20, 1965 c. L. CLEVENGER 3,

RETAINING CLIP FOR CONSTRUCTION PANELS WITH TEAR STRIPS Filed Aug. 30, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGS JNVENTOR.

qaz C6??? Dec. 20, 1966 c ER I 3,292,318

RETAINING CLIP FOR CONSTRUCTION-PANELS WITH TEAR STRIPS INVENTOR.

BY xm United States Patent 3,292,318 RETAINING CLIP FOR CONSTRUCTION PANELS WITH TEAR STRIPS Clifton L. Clevenger, 5020 55th Ave., Rogers Heights, Md. Filed Aug. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 305,711 3 Claims. (Cl. 52-98) This invention relates to improved means for readily assembling dry wall construction panels so as to permit their ready disassembly.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to erect walls by assembling dry wall panels in abutting relation and securing the same to the usual studding or framing so that the outer faces thereof will be substantially flush in appearance. Thereafter, it is customary to apply spackling and/or paint and the like over the retaining clips and outer panel surfaces to provide the desired decor. While this results in an adequate and permanent wall construction, it has been diflicult to remove the panels intact for various reasons, such as, replacement or rearrangement, without entirely damaging the abutting panels because the exact locations of the retaining clips are not readily ascertainable. In addition, even if the latter can be located, access thereto for removal thereof has been diflicult, if not impossible, due to their being covered by spackling, paint or other covering and decorating material.

Thus, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a novel building panel and retaining clip construction having a flexible tear medium associated therewith so that when the panels and clips are assembled and covered with paint and the like, the locations of the clips are readily apparent and access thereto and removal thereof permitted by elongated displacement of the tear medium.

Another object is the provision of a wall panel and retaining clip construction embodying a novel flexible tear medium by virtue of which the resulting wall construction will function as and have the appearance of a permanent construction, and yet be temporary in that it is adaptable to be readily and speedily removed or disassembled.

A further object is the provision of a combination retaining clip and flexible tear strip or strips for assembling and retaining building panels in position whereby the tear strip or strips will readily reveal the locations of the clips and displacement of the strips will cause the removal of the paint or other covering thereon so as to permit the subsequent disassembly of the clips and panels.

A still further object is to provide a novel combination retaining clip and flexible .tear cord for securing together the abutting edges of building panels and yet permit of the ready removal of the clips and disassembly of the panels.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent by referring to the following specification in the light of the accompanying drawings, wherein FIGURE 1 is a perspective view'of a section of my novel combined retaining clip and one embodiment of tear strip with adjoining panels and molding in position;

FIGURE 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, showing the relative positions of the retaining clip, tear strips and surface paint;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of a section of the panel construction of FIGURE 1, and the pull tab of a tear strip;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a section of my novel combined retaining clip and another embodiment of tear medium in the form of a cord or wire with ad- 3,292,318 Patented Dec. 20, 1966 joining panels in position, and with the paint and molding broken away;

FIGURE 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a section of the retaining clip and tear cord or wire associated therewith.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, numeral 1 designates generally an elongated rnetal studding, which may be of corrosion-resistant, electro-galvanized steel, or other suitable metal, such as, aluminum. The studding generally approximates that shown and described in my Patent No. 3,016,116 issued January 9, 1962 on a retaining means for construction panels. The studding is formed from two elongated mating metal sheets 2-2 flattened in and joined at their rmidsections, as at 3. The sheets diverge angularly outwardly in opposed directions, as at 4-4, and the other ends thereof are bent outwardly or laterally, as at 5-5, and thence overlapped or bent inwardly in opposed directions, as at 6-6. The inner opposed ends of sections 6-6 are 'angularly and inwardly bent, as at 7-7, with the free ends thereof being slightly spaced thereapart to provide a continuous elongated slot or opening to accommodate a molding clip 10, corresponding to that shown and described in my aforementioned patent. The laterally bent and overlapped sections 5-5 and 6-6 present substantially flat faces which flatly engage the inner faces of adjoinin construction panels 9.

It will be understood that the elongated metal studding units 1 are arranged in vertical position in suitable spaced relation and extend from floor to ceiling of a room, with the terminal ends being suitably anchored in position. Thus, large standard construction wall panels 9, such as Sheetrock, plywood, Marlite and the like, may now be arranged so that the elongated adjoining edges of a pair of panels will flatly engage the outer faces of sections 6-6 of the studs, with the edge portions 7-7 of the sections 6-6 extending inwardly and being spaced from the panel edges, as best shown in FIGURE 2. When the panels are so positioned, elongated substantially T-shaped metal molding clips 10, also preferably of corrosion-resistant, electrogalvanized steel or other suitable metal, such as aluminum, are mounted relative to the studding. Each clip is formed from a single elongated sheet of metal which is bent or folded along the lines 11 to provide two laterally extending substantially flat flanges 12-12 and an inwardly extending Web 13, Such a clip is also shown and described in my aforesaid Patent No. 3,016,-

v 116, by reference to which, it will be apparent that the web 13 of [a molding clip 10 is inserted between the slightly spaced adjoining edges of two wall panels 9 and the application of pressure to the flanges 12-12 thereof forces the web 13 between the edge portions of the studding 1 until the flanges 12-12 flatly engage the outer faces of wall panels 9 so that the edges of the panel are clamped between the sections 6-6 thereof and the flanges 12-12 of clip 10, as shown in FIGURE 2. Thus, the panels are locked and retained in position preparatory to being painted or otherwise decorated.

When in assembled and locked position, as hereinabove described, the clip flanges 12-12 will overlap the abutting edges of adjoining panels 9 so that both the flanges 12-12 and faces of the panels are adapted to be covered with spackling compound, plaster, and paint 14, or otherwise decorated. However, it is necessary to make provision for readily gaining access to the clips whereby the latter and panels may be removed and/or replaced after the decorating material has been applied thereon. In the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 3, an elongated, relatively thin flexible tape 15, of suitable material, such as paper cloth or plastic building gtape, is applied lengthwise of the flanges 12-12 of each of the clips. The tape 15 may be somewhat narrower in Width than the width of the flanges 12-12 and is superposed thereon to flatly engage the outer surfaces thereof and to extend from the upper ends of the flanges to a point short of or spaced from the lower ends thereof, as best shown in FIGURE 3. The tape 15 may have an adhesive coating, not shown, thereon so that it will adhere to the surfaces of the flanges, somewhat like Scotch tape or masking tape, although this is not essential. After the tapes have been applied to the flanges and either retained thereon by adhesive, or otherwise retained in position thereon, the decorating material 14 may be applied to the wall surfaces and flanges 12-12 in the usual manner. In applying the decorating material to these surfaces, it usually is not necessary to extend it entirely to the floor surface, as it is the usual practice to apply a floor molding strip or base board 16 over the base of the panels and clips, as best shown in FIGURE 3. Thus, it is preferable to have the lower ends of the tapes project below the bottom edge of the decorating material and to terminate short of the floor surface so as to provide pull tabs 17 on the lower ends thereof which are located behind and concealed by the molding 16. That is, the tabs will be arranged in the space between the flanges 12-12 and molding 16, for a purpose to be presently described.

In the event it is desired to remove and/or replacethe panels, to change the size or shape of an enclosure, or in the event the panels and/or clips should be damaged, it will only be necessary to remove the molding 16, which is usually adhesively secured in position, so that the free ends or pull tabs 17 of the various tapes 15 will be visible and to grasp the pull tabs 17 of the appropriate tape or tapes 15, in the fingers, depending upon which wall section is to be removed and/or replaced, and to jerk or exert an out.- Ward and upward pull threreon which will cause the tapes 15 to burst outwardly through the decorating material 14 on the panels 9 and strip the material therefrom so as to uncover and reveal the flanges 12-12, in an obvious manner. In other words, the tapes will act in the capacity of tear strips to break through and remove the coating of material 14 on the flanges 12-12. Thus, it will only be necessary to insert a sharp or pointed tool under one of the flanges 12-12 and to pry the web 13 of the clip outwardly from the slot between the edge portions 77 of studding 1. The panel may then be slipped out from between the flange 12 and section 6 of the studding, in an obvious manner. While I have shown and described the use of two tapes for each clip, it may be satisfactory in some instances to use a single tape with each clip, in which event the same would be located midway between the flanges 12-12, in an obvious manner, not shown.

Although the use of suitable tapes has been found very satisfactory, other tearing media may be utilized. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 4 to 6, a flexible cylindrical cord or wire 18 of suitable material, such as fabric, plastic or thin metal, such as piano wire, is arranged on the clips 10, and on the flanges 12'-12 thereof, preferably in the hollow 19 formed at the point of juncture between the flanges 12'-12' and webs 13'. By so locating and arranging the cord or wire 18 midway between the flanges 12'12', it will be apparent that only a single cord or wire need be used with each clip. The lower end of the cord or wire 18 will similarly project below the lower edge of the decorating material 14 to provide a tab 17 which will be located behind and be normally concealed by molding strips 16. It follows that the same procedure is pursued, namely, an upward jerk is imparted to the tab 17' which causes the cord or wire 18 to burst throughthe decorating material coating 14' and reveal the flanges 12-12' for removal as previously described. wire, two or more could be utilized, as will be readily apparent.

While I have shown and described several variations of my novel combined retaining clip and tear strip or cord, it is to be understood that various other changes and improvements may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with building panels in edge-to-edge coplanar arrangement, a connecting clip member formed 1 of a strip of sheet material bent into a substantially T-shaped cross-section with its marginal portions defining flexible flat strip means engaging a substantial portion of the outer faces of said flanges and extending longitudinally thereof intermediate the marginal edges of said flanges, said clips, strip means and panels having a'decorating coating material thereover forming a continuous wall structure, one end of said flexible strip means being free of said coating material whereby a pull exerted on said free end will cause said flexible strip means to tear through said coating material to uncover said flanges for ready removal of said clips for disassembly of said panels without marring thereof whereby said panels may thereafter be used.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the flexible strip means comprises substantially flat strips, said strips being superposed on said flanges.

3. The device of claim 1 in which the flexible strip means comprises substantially flat strips, said strips being narrower in width than said flanges, and said strips being superposed on said flanges.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Plastering Industries Magazine, January 1961, pages 17-19.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

EARL J. WITMER, Examiner.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, R A. STENZEL,

Assistant Examiners.

If desired, in lieu of the single cord or 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH BUILDING PANELS IN EDGE-TO-EDGE COPLANAR ARRANGEMENT, A CONNECTING CLIP MEMBER FORMED OF A STRIP OF SHEET MATERIAL BENT INTO A SUBSTANTIALLY T-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION WITH ITS MARGINAL PORTIONS DEFINING CO-PLANAR FLANGES, SAID CLIP MEMBER BEING INTERPOSED BETWEEN ABUTTING EDGES OF ADJOINING PANELS WHEREBY SAID FLANGES WILL FLATLY ENGAGE THE OUTER FACES OF SAID PANELS, FLEXIBLE FLAT STRIP MEANS ENGAGING A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE OUTER FACES OF SAID FLANGES AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF INTERMEDIATE THE MARGINAL EDGES OF SAID FLANGES, SAID CLIPS, STRIP MEANS AND PANELS HAVING A DECORATING COATING MATERIAL THEREOVER FORMING A CONTINUOUS WALL STRUCTURE, ONE END OF SAID FLEXIBLE STRIP MEANS BEING FREE OF SAID COATING MATERIAL WHEREBY A PULL EXERTED ON SAID FREE END WILL CAUSE SAID FLEXIBLE STRIP MEANS TO TEAR THROUGH SAID COATING MATERIAL TO UNCOVER SAID FLANGES FOR READY REMOVAL OF SAID CLIPS FOR DISASSEMBLY OF SAID PANEL WITHOUT MARRING THEREOF WHEREBY SAID PANELS MAY THEREAFTER BE USED. 